BY BEV FERGUSON

Coastal City Ballet presents a modern twist on a timeless classic that the whole family will love, on Saturday, May 21 at 8 pm at the Playhouse in Vancouver and on Friday, June 10 at 8 pm at the Surrey Arts Centre in Surrey. Photo by David Cooper

 

Coastal City Ballet presents the highlight of the 2015-2016 season: the illustrious and beloved ballet Swan Lake, a Canadian premiere choreographed by Irene Schneider. Schneider presents a modern twist on a timeless classic that the whole family will love, on Saturday, May 21 at 8 pm at the Playhouse in Vancouver and on Friday, June 10 at 8 pm at the Surrey Arts Centre in Surrey.

Schneider’s Swan Lake explores the human emotion of a romantic love contrasted against a realistic and practical love of an arranged marriage. Odette (White Swan) comes to Siegfried in his dream, embodying the ideal of true love, while Odile (Black Swan) is presented to Siegfried by the evil Rothbarth as the woman he is to wed.

Schneider gives us a story that is more relatable to modern day while maintaining the tradition and essence of the Swan Lake we all expect to see. Audiences will not be disappointed to experience the classic Act 2 with the beautiful swans dancing in unison and the tragic ending of Act 4.

The diverse talents of Coastal City Ballet along with the beautiful score of Pytor Tchaikovsky, glorious costumes and imaginative sets brings this heart-wrenching love story to life. This full-length masterpiece is one not to be missed, that young and old alike will enjoy.

Li Yaming, artistic director of Coastal City Ballet, is excited to stage this ambitious ballet in the company’s fifth season. “I wanted to challenge the dancers and the company,” says Li, “and provide Vancouver audiences with a magnificent classic such as Swan Lake.”

Irene Schneider’s first commission for Coastal City Ballet was in 2012, when she choreographed the world premiere ballet Hansel and Gretel. “A long friendship has kept me in touch with Li Yaming, artistic director for Coastal City Ballet, and in the following years I came to choreograph A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Coppelia and Cinderella. Coming back to Coastal City Ballet to remount Swan Lake is like coming home,” says Schneider.

Schneider is an independent choreographer who has created over 60 ballets presented in numerous opera houses in Germany and throughout the world. After finishing her professional ballet career, primarily with Stuttgart Ballet, she began teaching and choreographing. Her career led her to Magdeburg Ballet, where she was artistic director for 15 years.

Coastal City Ballet is a repertory ballet company, based in Vancouver, that provides performance opportunities for emerging dancers, both Canadian and international. Coastal City Ballet’s repertoire ranges from original story ballets to classical and commissioned contemporary works by established international choreographers.

Since its conception in September 2011, Coastal City Ballet has successfully presented nine productions to audiences in greater Vancouver and Regina, Saskatchewan, including its first original story ballet Hansel and Gretel in 2012, as well as the staging of classical excerpts and commissioned world premieres by Wen Wei Wang, Joshua Beamish, Erica Trivett, Farley Johansson, and Artistic Director, Li Yaming, among others. www.coastalcityballet.com

Coastal City Ballet presents Swan Lake

VANCOUVER

Date: Saturday, May 21 at 8 pm

Ticket prices: From $25.00 – $45.00 with discounts for groups of 10 or more

Address: Vancouver Playhouse, 600 Hamilton Street, Vancouver, BC

Box Office: Vtixonline.com /604.241.7292

Vancouver Playhouse 604.665.3050

SURREY

Date: Friday, June 10 at 8 pm

Ticket prices: From $25.00 – $35.00 with discounts for Groups of 10 or more

Address: Surrey Arts Centre, 13750 88 Ave, Surrey, BC

Box Office: http://www.surrey.ca 604.501.5566

https://tickets.surrey.ca/TheatreManager/1/login?event=1670

 

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